In a new progress report on the relocation of asylum seekers from Greece and Italy, the European Commission again had to call on member states to step up their efforts in taking people who are waiting in these two countries, particularly because migrants are continuing to arrive in Italy. According to the most recent figures published, 1,372 relocations took place between the end of September and the beginning of November, which brings the total number of people relocated since September 2015 to 6,925, with 5,376 of them from Greece. From 28 September to 8 November, 1,212 people were relocated, 921 from Greece and 291 from Italy.
The Commission explains that “the lower number of transfers in October (779, of which 549 from Greece and 230 from Italy) reflects in particular the low number of pledges made during the month of August, which has had a knock on effect in terms of lower transfer rates”. The Commission also points out that “further efforts are needed to increase the number of transfers per month and to sustain a steady relocation pace” and that, “more needs to be done to ensure that all unaccompanied minors eligible for relocation are swiftly transferred”.
In Greece, there are currently around 24,000 people with one of the nationalities eligible for relocation, and in Italy around 20,400 people who have arrived since January 2016 possess one of these nationalities (Syria, Eritrea, Burundi, Mozambique, Bahrain, Bhutan, Qatar and Yemen, according to Eurostat, a Commission spokesperson says; no longer on the most recent list that includes nationalities whose acceptance rates for requests exceeds 75%, Iraqis remain eligible for relocation in a personal capacity).
The Commission considers that “if relocation efforts are stepped up it should be possible to relocate everyone eligible during the planned relocation period (in other words, by September 2017)”.
The Commission explains that with the ongoing arrival of migrants in Italy, now at 29,844 persons since 26 September, and the still challenging humanitarian situation in Greece, which currently hosts over 61,700 migrants, relocation remains crucial to alleviating the pressure in these countries.
The Commission also called on Greece and Italy to enhance their respective capacitive for processing requests. Greece is again requested to set up other relocation centres and Italy to implement the modalities agreed with Europol, as well as proceed to the first relocations of non-accompanied minors.
With regard to the question of refugee resettlements in the EU, another decision adopted in 2015, the Commission indicates in a report that member states, helped by EU associated countries, have almost fulfilled half of their target. More than half of the 22,504 resettlements planned have so far been carried out, with 21 member states states (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) having taken in 11,852 people. Sweden, the United Kingdom and Finland as well as associated states Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Iceland have already met their commitments.
Turkey. Around 2,217 Syrians have been resettled in the EU since 4 April under the terms of the EU-Turkey agreement of 18 March, particularly in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. Member states have released a reserve of 54,000 places for these Syrian refugees currently being cared for in Turkey. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)